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BRP Miguel Malvar crew holds familiarization drills for ship systems

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
June 5, 2025, 12:49 pm Updated on June 5, 2025, 3:37 pm

MANILA -- Crew members of the country's latest guided missile frigate, the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), on Wednesday engaged in familiarization and training on all shipboard systems.

In an interview Thursday, Philippine Fleet spokesperson Commander Randy Garbo said the personnel of the ship trained with the "original equipment manufacturer" (OEM) to familiarize themselves with these systems.

These drills took place while the ship was sailing in Zambales waters.

"(The drills are more) on OEM training, familiarization (with the) system(s)," Garbo said.

He added that the ship returned to Naval Operating Base Subic in Zambales after the activity.

The BRP Miguel Malvar, he said, would be deployed once higher headquarters determines that its crew is fully trained and familiar with the ship's equipment.

The BRP Miguel Malvar, commissioned on May 20, is the first Filipino warship to be equipped with a "vertical launch system" (VLS) optimized for neutralizing air threats. The VLS is an advanced system for storing and firing missiles aboard naval vessels.

The BRP Miguel Malvar is the most advanced and heavily armed ship in PN service.

The ship weighs 3,200 gross tons, measures 118.4 meters, and has a beam of 14.9 meters. It has a range of 4,500 nautical miles, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a maximum speed of 25 knots.

It is equipped with sensors, surveillance systems, and weapons platforms for multi-combat operations, enabling it to track and engage surface, sub-surface, and air threats.

The vessel is equipped with an Oto Melara main gun, a 35mm Aselsan close-in weapons systems, four .50 caliber heavy machine guns, eight C-Star surface-to-surface missile tubes, two triple Blue Shark torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare, and 16 VLS tubes for air defense.

On Wednesday, the BRP Miguel Malvar took part in the seventh iteration of the Philippine-US maritime cooperative activity off the coast of Zambales.

A Philippine Air Force W-3A "Sokol" rescue helicopter and the Philippine Coast Guard's patrol vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) also took part in the exercise. (PNA)